As reporters, we always try to plan ahead for the worst case scenario, never knowing where a story is going to take us. Our company has issued each of us our own emergency backpacks. Each pack includes a sealed respirator and full-body protective suit. The suit comes with gloves, boots and duct tape to seal out any contaminants.
You may not need a kit as comprehensive as this at home, but you should have the essentials. Those include a flashlight with batteries, some food and water, a hand-cranked or battery-powered radio, a first aid kit and a dust mask.
Alex Agosti of the /*American Red Cross*/ says you should have two different plans in place: an evacuation plan as well as a plan to shelter in place, in case you have to stay where you are.
"Basically you're going to want to close the doors and windows and turn off any ventilation or fan system that's going to bring stuff from the outside in to your home," said Agosti. "In the case of a nuclear incident, it's recommended you shelter in place in your basement."
You should also know what the evacuation and shelter-in-place plans are at your children's schools and your workplace. And you should designate an out-of-town contact in advance - someone whose number everyone in your household has on hand and knows to call with updates.
"Very often when the local lines are down, you can still make a long-distance call to an unaffected area," said Agosti.
As far as your emergency kit, experts recommend having enough supplies to sustain you and your family for three days if you're evacuating, and for two weeks if you're staying in place. That includes toiletries, a foil blanket or rescue sheet, and heavy gloves.
If you believe you've already been exposed to radiation or some other contaminant, you should:
*Remove all your clothing and jewelry, preferably outside your home
*Put those items in a bag
*Seal the bag and wait for information on how to dispose of it properly
*And finally, shower with soap and water, but don't do any abrasive scrubbing that might damage your skin
It may surprise you, but experts say soap and water will remove 95% of the contamination on your body. Also, when getting your kit ready you should include at least three days' worth of prescription medication. And don't forget to pack supplies for your pets.
For more visit redcross.org, readynotifypa.org, or ready.gov.
